Training
Australian Cobberdogs are highly intelligent and eager to learn, it is important to establish your leadership.
In the first 12 months of your puppy’s life, it is critical to shape their behaviour with consistency and firm
boundaries. If there is a behaviour that you do not want to encourage, discourage it EVERY SINGLE TIME it
happens. Be consistent with how you manage it. It is important that your Cobberdog recognises you as their
leader. This is the foundation for a healthy, happy, relaxed, and obedient companion.
We highly encourage every puppy and puppy owner to attend puppy pre-school. Australian Cobberdogs have
terrific aptitude for training and with high intelligence and a strong willingness to please, they learn quickly and
are always star pupils. Puppy pre-school gets them out socialising and is a lot of fun for both of you.
Exercise
For the first 6 months, young puppies should not be excessively exercised, with the purpose of increasing their strength or endurance. From 6 months to 18 months old, long hikes and walks are also not recommended as the puppy is still growing and developing joints, bones, and muscles. Sniffing and strolling around in the backyard, natural play with you is great. You can also go for short walks at your puppies’ pace, around a short block, stopping to let your puppy sniff and explore. If your puppy flops down, he/she has had enough you will need to carry them home. Roll balls and drag toys on the ground in gentle circles. Tugging toys need to be kept low so the puppy’s neck is in a straight line. Mental stimulation tires your puppy faster than physical exercise. Start training your puppy to sit, stay, drop, shake, and make sure you use healthy treats. They will love the stimulation, just begin with a maximum of 5 minutes.
Please check out this puppy exercise guideline for reference.
Toileting
Very young puppies need to toilet every hour or so. Set your alarm on your phone or oven & take him outside every hour. Always take him out as soon as he wakes up and after he eats and drinks. Use the same words every time you take him outside e.g. “wee-wees” or “loo time’ do not engage in play with your puppy until they have done their business. Remember, be patient. Puppies will sniff and walk around to find the perfect spot to relieve themselves. When they have relieved themselves, make sure you praise them by saying in a happy/positive voice good boy/girl.
If a puppy has an accident inside, make sure you thoroughly clean and deodorise to discourage your puppy from using the same spot again. Tagalong puppies have been using puppy pads in their enclosure to toilet but they have advanced to the Anko Pet Potty Mat (available at Kmart). This is excellent and is great for inside or even outside if you don’t have a grass area. It has 3 layers, fake grass a draining tray & a base tray. Everything can be hosed off. If you choose not to crate your puppy overnight & have them in an enclosed puppy area, these mats are excellent for the pen.
Another option for toileting is Poochie bells (bells on a long chord) Hang these bells on the main exit that your puppy will use for potty training & show your puppy how to ring the bell each time that you make a trip to the regulated bathroom spot. Your puppy will then be able to let you know when they want to go outside by ringing the bell.